Himalayan Cat

The Himalayan Cat is one of the most popular breeds in the world. They are a mix between a Persian Cat and a Siamese Cat.

If you have always dreamed of having a cuddly and fuzzy pet, then the Himalayan Cat is the apt breed for you. They are adorably cute as kittens and only grow up to become "bundles of joy" in every real sense.

Himalayan cats are extremely loving and gentle and can be easily mistaken to be a Persian cat. Of course, it is a descendant of the Persian cat but it has some unique qualities that make this beauty popular among cat lovers.

History

From the name of this breed, one would expect its origins to be somewhere around the Himalayan area. This seems quite right considering its long and thick fur that is apt for a cat that needs to brave the cold weather in the Himalayan area.

However, the truth is that the Himalayan cat was first bred in the United States. Then why is it not called the American cat? Well, the reason is that the name of the cat has nothing to do with the place of origin. This breed is actually named after the Himalayan rabbit which has color points similar to the Himalayan cat. Well, cat breeders sure do put in a lot of thought into naming the beautiful cat breeds that they create.

The Himalayan cat was first created in the 1930's by two breeders. The primary objective of this breeding program was to understand the methods to create a color-point cat with long hair. After five years of experimentation and trials, breakthrough came in the year 1937 when they first created a Himalayan kitten. This cat was named ‘Newtons Debutante’. Once they had achieved the desired results, this program was abandoned.

The origin of this breed in England is a rather interesting story. When a stray cat named "Bubastis Georgina" made her way into the Briarry Cattery, she inspired the creation of a new breed in that country. You see, this was no ordinary cat, it was a long haired color point. So, the breeder in this cattery, Brian started a new program with Mrs. S M Harding to develop more such cats in England.

During the 1950s, the breeding of the Himalayan Cat received new momentum. A lady named Marguerita Goforth was highly inspired by a cat that belonged to her friend. While she was taking care of this long haired color point cat for her friend, Marguerita, who was also a breeder, decided that she must start a breeding program to create more such cats.

Appearance

The most striking quality of the Himalayan cat is its colored points. Although the most common color for this breed is white or cream, you can find several other colors of points in this cat. It is these colored points that differentiate a Himalayan cat from a Persian Cat. Of course, if you have European friends, they might not be aware of this breed name. In these countries, even the Himalayan cat is known as the Persian cat. Of course, one minute change is that it is referred to as the "color point Persian" to help them distinguish between the two breeds.

Just to make sure that you do not get confused, here are some features that you can look out for to make sure that you have a Himalayan cat in your home:

The Eyes: Himalayan cats have lovely blue eyes that stand out despite the long fur that grabs all your attention.

Colour: The fur of the cat is usually beige or white all over. However, there are several colors available with the colored points. The most common colors are lilac, seal, chocolate, red, tabby, blue and tortoise.

Fur: The fur is long, no doubt. But what sets the coat of the Himalayan cat apart is the shine of the coat and the inherent thickness of the coat.

The Head: The head of the Himalayan cat varies as per its type. There are basically two breeds of the Himalayan Cat – the doll face and the peke face. The head is rounded in both types but the features are more squished in the peke face in comparison to the doll face.

Studies show that the Himalayan is the second most preferred breed of cats globally. Of course, if you look up the list of top ten favorite cats, you may not see the name of the gorgeous Himalayan cat. This is perhaps because the Himalayan cat is not recognized as a separate breed from the Persian. It is listed as a unique breed by the International Cat Fanciers’ Association, however.

If you have chosen a Himalayan cat for your home, you are definitely in for a treat. Your Himalayan cat will love to be around you and spend time with you. These cats are quiet and docile, but can make the best companions that you could ever ask for.

Personality

The choice of cats made to breed the Himalayan cat was rather strange. These two cats were poles apart in terms of their appearance and their personality. While one was short haired, the other was long haired. While one was a complete attention seeker, the other was quite aloof. So, the resulting breed was the ideal one for everyone. A perfect blend of all the desirable qualities in these breeds gave us the Himalayan cat, or as we would fondly call it, "The Hinnnie".

The Perfect Balance

The beauty of the Himalayan cat lies in the fact that it is a perfect balance between the Persian and the Siamese. Several blogs that have reviews by Himalayan cat owners who previously owned a Persian cat or a Siamese cat show this common thread. They seem to have inherited the right qualities in the right amount, making them extremely sought after.

The Himalayan cat is just as docile and gentle as the Persian cat. They love to be petted and they will also be very gentle and loving in return. However, unlike the Persian cat, the Himalayan cat does not come across as an aloof, one master pet. That is the balance that this breed maintains. The Himalayan cat will get along quite well with almost all members of your family, including your other pets and even little children.

The Siamese traits that you will be thankful for is the voice and the playfulness. The Himalayan cat is not as vocal as the Siamese cat but it is definitely a lot more vocal than the Persian cat. The voice is also gentle and soothing. But, you can be sure that he will not be as talkative as the Siamese cat. So, if you had a Siamese cat whose constant mewing was a bother, you should opt for the Himalayan cat that is talkative, but in the right amount.

When you are bored, your Himmie will make a great companion. They are extremely playful and will spend time with you when you need it. This is another quality' that is inherited in the right amount. While Persian cats are simply too laid back, the Siamese cat will demand a lot of attention. The Himalayan cat is not as demanding as the Siamese cat but maintains a very neutral and rather pleasant "cattitude" unlike the royal Persian cat.

Himalayan cats are great pets to have. You will be glad that you chose this breed as it will keep you company when you need it and will also let you relax when you are too tired or exhausted to play. One thing that is adorable about the Himalayan cat is that they know exactly how you feel and will respond perfectly to that, making you feel a lot more at home.

General Care

This kitty needs to be groomed daily and also needs daily eye maintenance. It is important to keep their eyes clean. Gently wiping any secretion from their eyes will keep infection from setting in. It is also recommended to bath this cat. It can reduce the oil build up on its fur.

Aside from the high maintenance, they are also prone to hair balls. When they clean themselves, fur gets ingested and later it is expelled in a ball of fur. To avoid this, feed your cat a bit of petroleum jelly. Yet, first speak to your vet to ensure petroleum jelly is right for your cat's health.

Overall this is a healthy breed, but does require lots maintenance. The Himalayan cat is great with families and small children.